Tracy Mountford, MBBS

That depends on a lot of things including the age of the patient, the degree of lift required, the laxity or otherwise of the skin. In order to give you the best advice an examination in person is essential. This will allow your practitioner to determine the anatomy and the condition of the tissues, and thus what is likely to work for you.

Botox alone can be very useful, particularly in younger patients, to give a subtle lift to the tail of the brow. This is relatively economical but  does require maintenance every three to four months. To enhance the effects of Botox, it may be possible to add filler directly to the brow or to the temple thus supporting the tissue around the eye. Fillers may last from 6 months to over a year.

Threads can be useful for the brow area, particularly where a more substantial lift is desired, but it must be remembered that the procedure is more invasive, carries greater risk, and it is more expensive. The effects of a thread lift in the brow will be maintained for up to a year, at which point you would need a repeat procedure.

A combination of all three, fillers, Botox and threads would give the maximum lift, but will obviously be the most costly option

Please remember to choose your practitioner carefully. You are looking for someone who is medically qualified, highly experienced, and who has performed high numbers of whichever treatment you are seeking.

It is quite normal to be a little anxious prior to any procedure. This is your face, and it is healthy for you to ask questions. 

Firstly, please ask a few prudent questions of your doctor - don’t be afraid to question their qualifications and their experience with this procedure. This is crucial towards getting best results. Your doctor should have a thorough initial consultation with you to make sure you are a suitable candidate for the procedure, to advise you of the process and to discuss any potential risks. 

To address your question, in most cases the side effects of Silhouette Soft are relatively minor and short lived. I expect my patients to feel sore afterwards and to need some painkillers over the first 24-48 hours. Swelling is also expected and sometimes bruising. Some patients do not bruise, but I warn people to expect it so that if they don’t have bruise it is a pleasant surprise rather than an unexpected shock. In the first few days some unevenness is also to be expected. The skin can ruche and pucker somewhat, but this will settle down as the skin remodels.

In terms of longer-term complications with Silhouette Soft, they are rare. Some patients experience a dimple at the entry site of the needle. Your practitioner should know how to deal with this if it does happen. Infection is possible with any procedure where there is a point of entry, which is why we take every precaution with sterility, and will advise you of the necessary aftercare. Nerve damage is a very rare side effect, and should not be an issue if your Doctor is working in the correct plane of tissue in the face. However with anything sharp in the face there is a small risk of this. 

Overall the vast majority of these procedures go ahead with no major issues or side effects, but it is important to know that the Doctor you are putting your trust in is also able to deal with any issues that may arise.

I wish you all the best with your procedure!

Brow positioning is determined by a number of factors but
predominantly this is related to the muscle activity of frontalis (the forehead
muscle) and the structural fat support on the area. Depending on your
assessment there are a number of different treatments that can be used to
achieve your desired result. Botox to augment the muscle activity, dermal
filler to support the area around the brow, or other treatment modalities such
as threads could all be considered. The anatomy in this area is complex and so
you should always go to a practitioner who is skilled and experienced in
treating this upper part of the face. I hope this answer helps

Bruising after lip fillers may occur when the small needle hits tiny blood vessels hidden underneath the skin, and swelling is the body’s natural response to an injury - in this case, via the needle. It’s important to note that, no matter how experienced the injector is, there is always the risk of bruising and swelling - however, the amount of bruising and swelling can be minimized through appropriate pre- and post-treatment care.

For example, you may take Arnica tablets or apply topical Arnica gel to the bruised area after treatment. Arnica is a homeopathic remedy shown to decrease such effects as bruising. It is also advised that patients avoid any food, drink, supplement or medication that can thin the blood a few days prior to their appointment, as these may increase the severity of bruising.

After treatment, patients should continue to avoid blood thinners and physical exercise. Intermittent icing with a gel pack will help to reduce swelling dramatically within the first few hours. Bruising can last anywhere from 3 to 10 days.

Timing is imperative. I advise my patients to plan their lip treatments well in advance of any event or outing. This means that they should not be getting injectables done the day before an important meeting, job interview, wedding or a social event because, while I will do my best as an injector to ensure they do not experience significant bruising and swelling, it is always a possibility. 

Since lip fillers are non-surgical, they are a much less invasive treatment than lip lifts. The goal
of lip fillers is to provide natural volume to your lips. However, injection
technique and choice of correct filler product, can produce a lifted look to
the lip, without providing an undesirable over-projected look. I would
recommend also injecting the Cupid’s bow area and philtrum to reduce the
distance between the nostril base and the lip.